"To make it to the majors, first of all, was an accomplishment, and then to have success was another thing," said Blue, a three-time World Series champion with the Oakland Athletics and six-time All-Star who pitched a no-hitter in just his second start in 1970. "As a little country boy from northwest Louisiana, I just tried to keep it all together, stay grounded and take it all in stride."

Blue, 64, was on the cover of Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated during his illustrious 17-year career, opportunities for exposure that helped Blue become a household name. The left-hander retired in 1986 with the San Francisco Giants and has since launched a broadcasting career for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, the TV home of the Giants.

Blue also was the grand marshal this past Sunday for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 in Sonoma, Calif.

"I got to be the guy who said, 'Drivers, start your engines,'" Blue said. "So being Vida Blue has opened a lot of doors for me just through baseball ... the hard work paid off through success."

Lafayette native Ron Guidry pitched for the New York Yankees from 1975-88. His number 49 was retired on "Ron Guidry Day" Aug. 23, 2003.The Associated Press

Also in the 1970s, "Louisiana Lightning" struck the American League in the form of another Louisiana southpaw, Ron Guidry. The Lafayette native was dubbed that nickname during his great 14-year career with the New York Yankees that featured World Series titles in 1977 and 1978, four All-Star appearances and five Gold Glove awards.

Thirty-six years ago, Guidry, 63, struck out a Yankee-record 18 batters in a game against the California Angels, and Blue said it's ironic that both he and Guidry hail from the Bayou State. They have both been inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, too.

"Of course, when you pitch in New York City for the most popular franchise in sports in the world, you're bound to get some exposure," Blue said. "(Guidry) had a great season, too, when he burst onto the scene. Who would have thought that we'd be the product of the same state?

"When I made it to the majors, I was around people from all these big cities and towns, yet I stayed true to myself, my family, my brand and my hometown."